The St. Lawrence Seaway, a major maritime trade route between Montreal and the Great Lakes, shut down early Sunday morning, Oct. 22, after union workers walked off the job. There are an estimated 360 workers on strike, according to the Associated Press.
The strike is expected to affect the movement of grain, fertilizer, and other goods along the Seaway, a trade artery jointly managed by Canada and the US that stretches between Lake Erie and Montreal.
Fertilizer Canada quickly called for St. Lawrence Seaway Management Co. (SLSMC) and Unifor, Canada’s largest union, to promptly come to an agreement to end the strike, saying that the fall is a crucial time in Eastern Canada for the import of fertilizer shipments in preparation for spring.
SLSMC said on Oct. 24 that it is receiving ongoing communication from various groups voicing their concern about delays in getting essential cargoes delivered. “This impasse is extremely unfortunate but our members remain committed to getting a fair agreement,” said Unifor President Lana Payne.
Under what’s known as “pattern bargaining,” Unifor recently won wage increases for its members who work for Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Co. SLSMC, the not-for-profit corporation responsible for Canadian Seaway facilities, which consist of 13 of the 15 locks between Montreal and Lake Erie, said the union is now seeking a similar deal for its workers there. SLSMC said the union is looking for “wage increases inspired by automotive-type negotiations” and has “minimally moved” from initial demands.
The company said there are no ships currently waiting to exit the Seaway “but there are over 100 vessels outside the system, which are impacted by the situation.”
“In these economically and geopolitically critical times, it is important that the Seaway remains a reliable transportation route for the efficient movement of essential cargoes between North America and the remainder of the world,” said SLSM President and CEO Terence Bowles.
SLSMC is seeking a ruling under the Canada Labor Code that would force the union to provide workers to ensure the movement of grain along the route. The ruling has not been issued. However, the Canadian government did order both sides to return to the bargaining table on Oct. 27 with a federal mediator. Both said they would comply.
Business groups, including the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), were pleased with the resumption of negotiations. However, if they fail on Oct. 27, CFIB said the federal government should enact back-to-work legislation.
“Ottawa must resolve this situation as quickly as possible to minimize the impact and not wait for the strike to drag on like it happened during the strike at British Columbia ports earlier this year,” said CFIB.